Integration of control loops in an UML based engineering environment for PLC

Abstract

This paper presents a UML-based engineering environment for the design and implementation of hybrid systems in forming technology. The discrete superordinate steps of forming technology are programmed as an activity diagram (UML). Some process steps include control loops which are modeled in Simulink. The control loops are automatically generated into Continuous Function Chart (CFC) in Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The paper describes how the controllers can be distributed with different task cycle times and how the performance of these controllers can be ensured during runtime. In the process, the activity diagram is compared with the standard IEC 61499 considering the aspects usability and execution/implementation.

Evolution of software in automated production systems: Challenges and research directions

“…plcML being a UML dialect, into a PLC programming environment is realized by Witsch and VogelHeuser (2011) and available for state chart and class diagrams in CODESYS V3 9 . Sequence diagrams (Kormann et al, 2012) and activity diagrams (Bayrak et al, 2011) have been adapted and integrated too, but are not available on the market yet. Code generation from plcML to Siemens S7 10 platform has been introduced in Tikhonov et al (2014).…”